Chu Lianxin was so shocked by the news that the Liu family was coming to the capital that she was too distraught to care about that old hag Zhou.
Therefore, she looked at Granny Zhou with a troubled expression: "Granny, it's not that I don't want to save you, but you were originally the former mistress's person, and the indenture is not in my hands. I really can't do anything about it!"
After saying that, she didn't even glance at the disappointed expression on Granny Zhou's face, but turned to Jiang Luoxue and showed a fake affection that couldn't be more fake: "I was just worried that something might happen to you if you went out for a day. I'm relieved to see that you are safe and sound."
"Um... I suddenly remembered I have some things to do, so I'll head back now."
After saying that, she and her entrouge hurriedly left.
Only a desperate Zhou Mama remained, watching her retreating figure and crying out, "Madam... Madam, save me!"
Unfortunately, upon hearing this, Chu Lianxin walked even faster.
Jiang Luoxue looked at Granny Zhou, who was pleading with Chu Lianxin, and said with a sarcastic smile, "Save your energy. Do you really think she values you that much?"
"Use your rectum, which runs straight to your brain, to think about it carefully!"
"All those years of caring words and petty favors she showed you were just a means to hone my skills with you."
"You brainless idiot with your ass upside down, you betrayed your former master to please her, and you beat me, scold me and withhold my things in private."
"Now that you're no longer of any use, why wouldn't she kick you to the curb? And Why would i keep an ingrate like you around? For the holidays or what?"
Granny Zhou shook her head, somewhat unable to accept reality.
"Madam has always been kind and gentle, and has never treated me like a servant. She would never treat me like this."
Jiang Luoxue sneered as she squatted down and pinched Zhou Mama's face hard with her hands, thus shattering her illusions.
"Hehe, she really doesn't treat you like a servant, because she treats you like a dog."
"Or a dog that knows her heart without costing her anything and wags its tail to fawn over her."
"Think about it carefully. If she really wanted to save you, she could have asked me for your indenture."
"But Chu Lianxin didn't."
"That's because in her eyes, someone like you who can so easily betray her master is not worth her effort to protect."
"..."
Granny Zhou's face turned pale and her mind raced. Even if she were stupid, she would understand by now that Chu Lianxin, as the mistress of the Minister's mansion, could easily get her indenture from the eldest daughter, who was not yet married.
But not only did she not, she didn't even plead for herself.
It seems that what the young lady said is true; Chu Lianxin has been using her all these years.
Thinking back over the years, every time Chu Lianxin wanted to deal with the young lady, she would summon her and tell her how disobedient the young lady was.
At the beginning, I really meant well for the young lady and would try my best to persuade her.
Later, under Chu Lianxin's instigation, that concern slowly turned sour, and she forgot her original intention.
She even felt that Chu Lianxin was right. Now that her mistress was gone, it was only natural for her, as someone who had once been by her side, to take care of the daughter she had given birth to.
So whenever Chu Lianxin said something wrong about the young lady in front of her, she would start scolding her without even asking any questions.
Under Chu Lianxin's intentional or unintentional guidance, she even began to mistreat the young lady.
Each time she did this, Chu Lianxin would give her something as a reward.
She would always apologize and say how difficult it was for her to be a stepmother. She had too many things to do in the mansion and no time to take care of her stepdaughter, so she had to work hard to raise the young lady herself.
When Granny Zhou heard these words, she was deeply moved.
She became increasingly harsh on the young lady.
Looking back now, it really was Chu Lianxin's doing.
Chu Lianxin used only a silver hairpin and a few taels of silver to coax her into betraying her master and abusing the young lady, while she gained a good reputation as a virtuous stepmother.
Thinking of this, Granny Zhou felt extremely guilty.
She kowtowed heavily to Jiang Luoxue several times: "I'm sorry, Miss. I shouldn't have treated you like that because of Chu Shi's few words of provocation and small favors."
"This servant deserves to die! This servant deserves to die!"
Granny Zhou kowtowed repeatedly.
Jiang Luoxue remained unmoved, simply saying indifferently, "I do not accept your apology, because the hurt will not disappear because of your apology."
"You'll go with the slave trader in a bit. How your life goes from here on out is up to fate."
Jiang Luoxue felt that she was not qualified to forgive Granny Zhou on behalf of the original owner of this body; it was already an act of mercy that she did not kill her.
Of course, another reason was that Jiang Luoxue was worried that too much change would arouse suspicion and cause unnecessary trouble, so she did not intend to kill the old woman.
Granny Zhou knew she had completely broken the young lady's heart and had no face to beg for forgiveness anymore.
Thinking of that hypocritical Chu Lianxin made her grit his teeth in hatred; everything she was going through today was caused by her.
Since that woman treated me this way, then she can't blame her for being ruthless.
After kowtowing, Granny Zhou said to Jiang Luoxue, "Miss, I have something to tell you."
"This is very important. Please clear out the people around you."
"Miss, you mustn't! Granny Zhou has always treated you badly. Who knows what she's up to?"
Chunhe and Qiuju quickly stopped her, glaring at Zhou Mama with hatred in their eyes, fearing that she might harm their master.
"Don't worry, Miss. I was deceived by treacherous people and blinded by greed before, which is why I treated you so badly."
Now this servant has realized her mistake and will never harm a single hair on your head again.
"This servant has something really important to tell you this time, but I can't let anyone else know, lest word get out and things get bad."
Granny Zhou's eyes were full of sincerity and anxiety.
But Chunhe and Qiuju still refused to believe her.
Jiang Luoxue had a gut feeling that Granny Zhou's words were related to Chu Lianxin, and besides, with her own skills, Granny Zhou couldn't possibly do anything to her.
She waved her hand and said to the two maids, "Chunhe and Qiuju, you two go out and guard the door. Don't let anyone come near here."
"Miss!" The two maids tried to stop her, but Jiang Luoxue looked up at them and said, "What, are you not going to listen to me?"
This was the first time Chunhe and Qiuju had ever seen their usually mild-mannered master with such a serious expression. They were taken aback and involuntarily retreated out the door.
They even thoughtfully closed the door and stood at the entrance to warn anyone not to come near.
Inside the house, Jiang Luoxue sat in a chair, looking down at Granny Zhou kneeling on the ground, and said, "What is it? Can you tell me now?"
Granny Zhou looked around cautiously, then whispered mysteriously, "Miss, I've noticed that the Second Miss and your future husband are getting very close. I've seen them talking privately several times, and they seem quite intimate. You must be careful!"
Jiang Luoxue was taken aback. After searching her memories, she realized that the original owner of this body was engaged to An Yuanxiu, the heir of the Duke of Anguo's mansion, and they would be getting married soon.
Now Granny Zhou tells her that her stepsister is getting close to her fiancé.
She immediately realized that the original owner's experience of being drugged with aphrodisiacs and chased by bandits was definitely related to these people.